Categories
Browse terms by their musical function.
Articulation
Instructions on how individual notes are attacked and connected.
21 terms
Composition
Techniques and structures used in creating music.
9 terms
Dynamics
Terms controlling volume: how loud or soft to play.
21 terms
Expression
Directions for mood, feeling, and interpretive character.
34 terms
Form
Structural terms describing how music is organised and arranged.
25 terms
Fundamental
Core building blocks of music theory: pitch, rhythm, tonality.
13 terms
Harmony
How notes combine into chords, progressions, and vertical relationships.
9 terms
Intervals
The distance between two pitches, measured in steps and quality.
18 terms
Keys
Tonal centres and their associated scales and signatures.
15 terms
Modifier
Terms that alter how another instruction is interpreted.
15 terms
Navigation
Directions for moving through a score: repeats, jumps, endings.
19 terms
Notation
Symbols and conventions for writing music on the page.
15 terms
Performance
Practical instructions for the performer beyond notes on the page.
24 terms
Pitch
The frequency of a sound and how it maps to named notes.
18 terms
Rhythm
Patterns of duration, accent, and timing in music.
16 terms
Scales
Ordered sets of pitches that form the basis of melody and harmony.
11 terms
Tempo
Markings that indicate speed and pace: from largo to prestissimo.
27 terms
See also: Browse A–Z | Composers | Learn